Known For
Acting
Known Credits
149
Gender
Male
Birthday
October 18, 1915 (110 years old)
Place of Birth
San Francisco, California, USA
Victor Sen Young (born Victor Cheung Young or Sen Yew Cheung; October 18, 1915 – body discovered November 9, 1980) was an American character actor, best known for playing Jimmy Chan in the Charlie Chan films and Hop Sing in the Western series Bonanza. He was born in San Francisco, California to Gum Yung Sen and his first wife, both immigrants from China.
His mother died during the flu epidemic of 1919. His father placed Victor and his younger sister, Rosemary, in a children's shelter, and returned to his homeland to seek another wife. He returned in 1922 with his new wife, Lovi Shee, forming a household with his two children.
Sen Yung made his first significant acting debut in the 1938 film Charlie Chan in Honolulu, as the Chinese detective's "number two son", Jimmy Chan. Sen Yung played Jimmy Chan in 11 Charlie Chan films between 1938 and 1942. Moonlighting from the popular Chan series, Sen Yung won critical acclaim playing the nuanced role of Ong Chi Seng, a young attorney assisting Howard Joyce, in defending Leslie Crosbie, in The Letter. Like other Chinese-American actors, he was cast in Japanese parts during World War II, like his role as the treacherous Japanese-American Joe Totsuiko in the 1942 Humphrey Bogart film Across the Pacific.
During World War II he joined the U.S. Army Air Forces just as his erstwhile co-star Sidney Toler was set to revive the dormant Charlie Chan series at Monogram Pictures. Sen Yung's military obligations forced him to decline rejoining the series immediately, but Monogram gave him a standing invitation to work there after his tour of duty. Sen Yung's military service included work in training films at the First Motion Picture Unit and a role in the Army Air Forces' play and film Winged Victory.
In 1946 Sen Yung resumed his Hollywood career at Monogram, now billed as Victor Sen Young, and reunited with Sidney Toler. Toler's health was failing; Monogram was conserving Toler's waning energy, limiting his scenes and giving him long rest periods during filming. To relieve the burden on Toler, Monogram entrusted much of the action to Victor Sen Young; he and either Mantan Moreland or Willie Best shared much of the footage in Toler's final three films, Dangerous Money, Shadows Over Chinatown, and The Trap. The addition of Moreland as Chan's black chauffeur, Birmingham Brown, reflected the fact that by this time the Chan pictures had a significant following among black Americans, who liked a film series that for once did not feature a white hero. Moreland's popularity in the Chan pictures was so great that he was booked for a nationwide vaudeville tour.
Following Toler's death in 1947, Victor Sen Young appeared in five of the remaining six Charlie Chan features. His character "Jimmy" was renamed "Tommy".
Victor Sen Young continued to work in motion pictures and television in roles ranging from featured players (affable or earnest Asian characters) to bit roles (clerks, houseboys, waiters, etc.).
Arguably even more than for his work in the Charlie Chan films, Victor Sen Yung is remembered as "Hop Sing," the irascible cook and general factotum on the iconic television series Bonanza, appearing in 107 episodes between 1959 and 1973.
Sen Yung was also an accomplished and talented chef. He frequently appeared on cooking programs and authored The Great Wok Cookbook in 1974.
| 1980 | The Man with Bogart's Faceas Mr. Wing | |
| 1977 | How the West Was Wonas Hospital Attendant | |
| 1975 | The Killer Eliteas Wei Chi | |
| 1975 | Barbary Coastas Soong | |
| 1975 | Isisas Mr. Chen | |
| 1974 | Police Womanas Ah Choy | |
| 1973 | The Red Ponyas Mr. Sing / Carni man / Mr. Green | |
| 1972 | Kung Fuas Chu | |
| 1972 | Kung Fuas Farmer | |
| 1972 | Kung Fuas Master Ling (uncredited) | |
| 1972 | Kung Fuas Old Mandarin | |
| 1972 | The Paul Lynde Showas | |
| 1972 | Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, the Sign of the Dragonas Chuen | |
| 1970 | Night Galleryas Joseph the Butler | |
| 1970 | The Hawaiiansas Chun Fat (uncredited) | |
| 1968 | A Flea in Her Earas Oke Saki | |
| 1968 | Here's Lucyas Headwaiter | |
| 1968 | Here's Lucyas Murphy | |
| 1968 | Hawaii Five-Oas Dr. Leo Kuh | |
| 1968 | The Movie Orgyas Self (archive footage) | |
| 1965 | The F.B.I.as Joseph Sakanishi | |
| 1965 | The F.B.I.as Mayor Eto | |
| 1965 | The F.B.I.as Mr. Kwong | |
| 1965 | Get Smartas Abe Fu Yung | |
| 1965 | Get Smartas Yamasaki | |
| 1965 | The Wild Wild Westas Baron Kyosai | |
| 1964 | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.as | |
| 1964 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E.as Servant | |
| 1964 | Mickeyas | |
| 1962 | Confessions of an Opium Eateras Wing Young | |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Showas Self | |
| 1961 | Flower Drum Songas Frankie Wing | |
| 1961 | 87th Precinctas Charlie, 1st Tattoo Parlor Owner | |
| 1961 | Dragon by the Tailas Dr. Wing Chin-Ni | |
| 1961 | Mister Edas | |
| 1960 | The Barbara Stanwyck Showas Dr. Wing Chin-Ni | |
| 1960 | Thrilleras Bartender | |
| 1960 | Hong Kongas Yang | |
| 1959 | Hawaiian Eyeas | |
| 1959 | Hawaiian Eyeas Al | |
| 1959 | Hawaiian Eyeas Sam | |
| 1959 | Bonanzaas Hop Sing | |
| 1958 | Yancy Derringeras Hon Lee | |
| 1958 | The Riflemanas | |
| 1958 | The Saga of Hemp Brownas Chang | |
| 1958 | The Huntersas Korean farmer | |
| 1958 | Jet Attackas Capt. Chon | |
| 1958 | She Demonsas Sammy Ching | |
| 1957 | Perry Masonas Mickey Fong | |
| 1957 | Perry Masonas Sheng | |
| 1957 | Richard Diamond, Private Detectiveas Magan | |
| 1957 | Men in Waras North Korean Sniper Prisoner | |
| 1956 | Accused of Murderas Hank - Bayliss' Houseboy (uncredited) | |
| 1956 | The Family Nobody Wantedas | |
| 1956 | Flight to Hong Kongas Airline Ticket Clerk (uncredited) | |
| 1956 | Broken Arrowas Ling Tang | |
| 1956 | Dr. Fu Manchuas Broadcaster (uncredited) | |
| 1956 | The Rawhide Yearsas Chang - Steward (uncredited) | |
| 1955 | Blood Alleyas Cpl. Wang | |
| 1955 | Navy Logas | |
| 1955 | The Left Hand of Godas John Wong | |
| 1955 | Soldier of Fortuneas Goldie - Hotel Waiter (uncredited) | |
| 1955 | Jump Into Hellas Lt. Thatch | |
| 1954 | Port of Hellas Detonation Ship Radioman | |
| 1954 | Captain Midnightas | |
| 1954 | The Shanghai Storyas Sun Lee | |
| 1954 | Jubilee Trailas Mickey - Chinese Man (uncredited) | |
| 1954 | The Lone Wolfas Jack Wong | |
| 1954 | Trader Tom of the China Seasas Wang | |
| 1953 | Forbiddenas Allan Chung | |
| 1953 | The Blue Gardeniaas Blue Gardenia Waiter (uncredited) | |
| 1953 | Target Hong Kongas Johnny Wing (uncredited) | |
| 1952 | Terry and the Piratesas | |
| 1952 | Adventures of Supermanas Harry Wong | |
| 1952 | Cripple Creekas Postal Clerk (uncredited) | |
| 1952 | The Sniperas Tom | |
| 1952 | Hong Kongas Mr. Howe (uncredited) | |
| 1952 | China Smithas | |
| 1952 | China Smithas George Loo | |
| 1951 | Valley of Fireas Ching Moon | |
| 1951 | Peking Expressas Chinese Captain (uncredited) | |
| 1951 | The Law and the Ladyas Chinese Manager (uncredited) | |
| 1951 | Secrets of Monte Carloas Chinese Clerk (uncredited) | |
| 1951 | The Groom Wore Spursas Ignacio | |
| 1951 | Grounds for Marriageas Oscar, Chris' Valet | |
| 1950 | Woman on the Runas Sammy Chung | |
| 1950 | The Jack Benny Programas Chinese Cafeteria Employee | |
| 1950 | The Breaking Pointas Mr. Sing | |
| 1950 | A Ticket to Tomahawkas Long Time | |
| 1950 | Key to the Cityas MC at the Blue Duck (uncredited) | |
| 1949 | And Baby Makes Threeas Lem Kee | |
| 1949 | Chinatown at Midnightas Hotel Proprietor | |
| 1949 | Oh, You Beautiful Dollas Houseboy | |
| 1949 | Red Lightas Vincent (uncredited) | |
| 1949 | The Sickle or the Crossas Major | |
| 1949 | Tuna Clipperas Oriental Dock Worker | |
| 1949 | Boston Blackie's Chinese Ventureas | |
| 1949 | State Department: File 649as Johnny Han | |
| 1948 | Rogues' Regimentas Rickshaw Boy (uncredited) | |
| 1948 | The Feathered Serpentas Tommy Chan | |
| 1948 | The Golden Eyeas Tommy Chan (as Victor Sen Young) | |
| 1948 | The Shanghai Chestas Tommy Chan | |
| 1948 | Docks of New Orleansas Tommy Chan | |
| 1948 | Half Past Midnightas Sam | |
| 1948 | To the Ends of the Earthas Chinese Pilot (uncredited) | |
| 1947 | Intrigueas Western Union Clerk (uncredited) | |
| 1947 | The Chinese Ringas Tommy Chan | |
| 1947 | The Flameas Chang | |
| 1947 | The Crimson Keyas Wing - Houseboy | |
| 1947 | Web of Dangeras Sam | |
| 1946 | The Trapas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1946 | Dangerous Millionsas Lin Chow | |
| 1946 | Dangerous Moneyas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1946 | G.I. War Bridesas Waiter (uncredited) | |
| 1946 | Shadows Over Chinatownas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1945 | Betrayal from the Eastas Omaya | |
| 1944 | Winged Victoryas Lee (uncredited) | |
| 1943 | Lost Angelas Chinese Man (uncredited) | |
| 1943 | Night Plane from Chungkingas Captain Po | |
| 1943 | Chinaas Lin Wei | |
| 1942 | Manila Callingas Armando | |
| 1942 | Across the Pacificas Joe Totsuiko | |
| 1942 | Little Tokyo, U.S.A.as | |
| 1942 | Moontideas Jimmy Takeo | |
| 1942 | The Mad Martindalesas Jefferson Gow | |
| 1942 | Secret Agent of Japanas Fu Yen | |
| 1942 | Castle in the Desertas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1942 | A Yank on the Burma Roadas Wing | |
| 1941 | Charlie Chan in Rioas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1941 | They Met in Bombayas Gin Ling (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | Dead Men Tellas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1940 | Murder Over New Yorkas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1940 | The Letteras Ong Chi Seng | |
| 1940 | Charlie Chan at the Wax Museumas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1940 | Charlie Chan's Murder Cruiseas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1940 | Charlie Chan in Panamaas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1939 | Escape to Paradiseas | |
| 1939 | Barricadeas Undetermined Role | |
| 1939 | 20,000 Men a Yearas Harold Chong | |
| 1939 | Charlie Chan at Treasure Islandas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1939 | Charlie Chan in Renoas Jimmy Chan | |
| 1939 | Torchy Blane in Chinatownas Chinese Entertainer with Sword | |
| 1938 | Charlie Chan in Honoluluas James Chan | |
| 1938 | Shadows Over Shanghaias Wang | |
| 1938 | Mr. Moto Takes a Chanceas Soldier | |
| 1938 | International Settlementas Bellboy / Onlooker in Street | |
| 1937 | Thank You, Mr. Motoas Onlooker with Street Acrobats / Elevator Operator (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Double or Nothingas Minor Role (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | The Good Earthas Peasant (uncredited) |